Push-cart.



H. A. VELING.

PUSH GART- APPLICATION FILED MAILQ, 1902.

Attorney I I I l I I mmsses I I I I ANDREW a. GRAHAM m. moroumuamwzns.WASHINGTON n c Patented Sept. 14, 1909.

HENRY A. VELING, OF ONEIDA, NEW YORK.

PUSH-CART.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 14, 1909.

Application filed March 9, 1908. Serial No. 419,964.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. VELING, of Oneida, in the county ofMadison, in the State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Push- Carts, of which the following, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in push carts and refersmore particularly to the body or box and to certain novel details ofconstruction associated therewith.

One of the objects of my present invention is to provide the box with afolding leg or standard with specific means for looking it in itsoperative or inoperative position.

Another object is to provide the box with.

a swinging end board and with separately movable locking members hingedto the sides of the box and engaging in concentric slots in the endboard.

A still further object is to provide the box with cover sections, one ofwhich is movable relatively to the other so that practically half thebox may be open while the other half remains closed.

A still further object is to make the vertical end board of slightlyless depth than the depth of the box so that its lower edge is spacedapart some distance from the bottom of said box to allow anyaccumulation of water therein to drain ofl.

Other objects and uses will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings-Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 are respectively a top plan, rearand front end views, and a side elevation of a push cart body embodyingthe various features of my invention, portions of the top and body beingbroken away in Figs. 1 and 4 while portions of the hinge connections ofthe movable end piece are shown in section in Fig. 2.

In carrying out the objects stated I provide a substantially rectangularbox composed of a bottom -1, opposite sides 2-, front and rear-endpieces 3- and -t, all of which parts are preferably formed of sheetmetal but may be formed of any other suitable material but when formedof sheet metal the upper edges of the sides and ends are usuallyoverturned outwardly to form reinforcing rolls or flanges -5- whichmaterially strengthen the side and end pieces against buckling orlateral strains, it being understood that the lower edges of said sidesand ends are firmly united to each other while the front end is rigidlysecured to the sides and bottom.

.The rear end, however, is hinged along its lower edge to the rear endof the bottom and for this purpose the latter is provided with anunderturned roll or flange -6 in the opposite ends of which are pivotedthe lower arms of two U-shaped hinge members 7, the upper arms of whichnormally overlie the bottom some distance above the same and are securedin a suitable upturned roll or flange --8 extending along the lower edgeof and forming a reinforcing flange for the movable end piece -4 and atthe same time the hingepieces 7 serve to hold the lower edge of the rearend piece a slight distance above the bottom of the body to leave anopen space for the drainage of any water which may accumulate on thebottom of the box. These U- shaped hinge members 7- enter a shortdistance into the outer ends of the rolls or flanges -6 and 8respectively, and their upper arms are rigidly secured by suitablefastening means as rivets -9- to the roll or flange 8- therebyconnecting said hinge pieces to the rear end piece and enabling said endpiece to swing rearwardly and downwardly upon the lower arms of thehinge member -7 in the bearing or roll 6- so that when the end piece isopen it hangs wholly below the bottom of the box, it being understoodthat the hinge pieces -7- are of considerably less length than thetransverse width of the box to economize in material and at the sametime aflord ample bearing for supporting the swinging end piece.

In order to lock the rear end board'in its closed position and to permitit to be opened when desired, 1 provide a pair of separately movablerock shafts l0- which are comparatively short and are journaled in therear ends. of the opposite rolls or flanges -5 at the sides of the box,each rock shaft being provided with a radially projecting stud 11- whichrides in a slot 12 in the adjacent portion of the roll or flange -5 toretain the rock shafts in operative position against undue endwisemovement or withdrawal from their bearings.

The rear ends of the rock shafts -10 extend a slight distance beyond therear end of the box and are provided with lateral offsets or crank arms13 movable across for limiting the downward movement of the crank arms13 and the studs -1l although the upper ends of the slots are open atthe top edge of the end board to permit the lugs or studs -14 to beelevated out of interlocking engagement with said end board. These crankarms 13' and studs l l serve to lock and unlock the hinged end board inand from its operative position. The inner ends of the studs areprovided with heads -16- of greater diameter than the width of the slotsso as to engage the inner face of the rear end board and thereby holdthe same against undue inward movement when locked in operativeposition, the crank arms l3- being provided at their free ends withrearwardly bent hand pieces 18 by which they may be manipulated to movethe studs 14 into and out of their respective slots for looking orunlocking the end boards.

The opposite or front end of the box is provided with a suitable handleby which the vehicle may be manipulated, said handle consisting of inthis instance a U-shaped rod or bar 20- having its extremities insertedinto the adjacent ends of the rolls and secured thereto by suitablefastening means as rivets 21 best seen in Fig. 4.

It is clear from the foregoing description that the side rolls orflanges -5- not only serve as a means for reinforcing and strengtheningthe sides of the box but also serve as bearings for the rock shafts andends of the handle bar but in both instances the rock shafts and handlebar extend only a comparatively short distance into their respectiverolls or bearings just sufficient to secure firmness and without wasteof stock.

A vertically swinging V-shaped leg or standard 25 has its opposite endsdeflected laterally in opposite directions and jonrnaled in suitablebearings -26 which are secured to the front end 3 of the box at oppositesides of the longitudinal center thereof so that the V-shaped leg -25plays in a plane between the bearings 26-, while its opposite ends as-27 and -28 extend some distance through and beyond their respectivehearings to allow limited axial movement thereof, one of the ends as 27-terminating in a suitable offset or handle 30 by which the leg orstandard may be rocked in its bearing to and from its operativeposition. The object of this leg of the handle bar 20 or standard is torest upon the ground and thereby support the front end of the bodyagainst ClOWllWfll'Cl movement when the vehicle is at rest and it is,therefore, of sufficient length to extend downwardly some dis tancebelow the bottom of the box when adjusted for use but is adapted to befolded upwardly against the intermediate portion when not in use as bestseen in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the operative position being shown by dottedlines in Figs. 3 and 4.

In order that the leg or standard 25- may be held in both its operativeand inoperative positions, I provide each end 27 and 28 with a pair of lugs and 36 spaced some distance apart on opposite ends of theirrespective bearings 26-, which latter are formed with shoulders 38 and-39 for interlocking engagement respectively with the lugs 3'5-- an 36-,said. shoulders being parallel with the swinging axis of the leg orstandard '25- and are usually arranged in different radial planes at anangle corresponding to the arc of movement of the leg from one extremeto its other extreme position.

The distance between the logs or shoulders 3S and -36- is greater thanthe width of the corresponding bearing 26 to permit the leg or standard-25- to be adjusted endwise to throw the lugs -35- and 3'6 out ofinterlocking engagement with either of the shoulders 38 or -89-- andthereby permit the leg to be rocked from one extreme position to theother. For example, when the leg or standard -25- is folded upwardly tothe position shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, it is moved axially toward theright hand to bring the lugs 35 above and in interlocking engagementwith the shoulders 38.

When it is desired to adjust the leg or standard for use in supportingthe front end of the body, it is moved a su'fiicient distance todisengage the lugs -35- from the shoulders 3"8 whereupon it may berocked downwardly to a vertical position wholly below its-swinging axis,and then again further adjusted toward the left hand to bringthe lugs 36beneath and into i-nterlocl'ring engagement with the shoulders -39-thereby holding the leg or standard in its adjusted position.

The shoulders -3'8 and -39 of the bearings -26 are disposed at an anglewith each other corresponding to the arc of movement of the leg orstandard 25- and the shoulders 35 and 36- are disposed at acorresponding angle so that when the leg orstandard is rocked to oneposition and moved endw-i'se to one position, one of said lugs at oneside of the bearing will be interlocked with the corresponding set ofshoulders and when moved to its operative position and shifted axiallyin the opposite position, the other set of lugs will be brought intointerlocking engagement with the adjacent set of shoulders.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of a suitable top orcover constituting a part of the box and com osed of a fixed section-4CO and a movable section -4l, both of said sections forming to gethera semicylindrical cover made up of two quarter sections of a cylinder,the movable section 41 being hinged at 4:2 near the bottom of themeeting edges to the ends of the fixed section 4;() which latter issecured to the top edges of one side and the front end of the box properby suitable fastening means as bolts -43 while the movable side l1 isarranged to telescope with the section l0 and is provided at its sideand end edges with flanges -44c which rest upon the correspondingflanges 5 of the adjacent side and end of the box.

The outer faces of these top sections -tO and '41- are concentric withthe swinging axis of the section &lthe latter being movable inside ofthe fixed section 4L0 somewhat in the manner of a cylinder top desk.

In order that the locking members -13- for the swinging end board 2- maybe moved outwardly above the upper edge of said end board, the slots -15are continued upwardly in the ends of the top section 40 and 41 as bestseen in Fig. 2 to receive the lugs 14 when the locking members l3 areelevated.

What I claim is:

1. In a push cart, a box having a bottom, side and end pieces, avertically swinging leg journaled on one of the end pieces and movableaxially, locking members on said end in proximity to the swinging axisof the leg, said locking members being disposed in different radialplanes at an angle corresponding to the arc of movement 0 the leg fromone extreme to the other, locking shoulders on the hinged end of the legmovable alternately into and out of interlocking engagement with saidlocking members as the leg is moved axially in opposite directions.

2. In a push cart, a box having a bottom, side and end pieces, avertically swinging leg journaled on one of the end pieces and movableaxially, locking members on said end in proximity to the swinging axisof the leg, said locking members being disposed in different radialplanes at an angle corresponding to the arc of movement of the leg fromone extreme to the other, locking shoulders on the hinged end of the legmovable alternately into and out of interlocking I engagement with saidlocking members as the leg is moved axially in opposite directions, theaxial distance between the shoulders on the hinged end of the leg beinggreater than the distance from outside to outside of the locking memberswhich they are adapted to engage to allow the leg to be swung verticallywithout engaging the shoulders with the locking members.

3. In a push cart, a box composed of bottom, opposite side pieces andopposite end pieces, a pair of bearings 011 one of the end pieces eachbearing having recesses in its opposite ends, a V-shaped swinging leghaving the ends of its opposite arms deflected laterally and 'ournaledin said bearings, said leg being provided with looking members adaptedto be brought into interlocking engagement with said recesses as the legis moved axially in either direction.

4. In a push cart, a box composed of a bottom, opposite sides and endpieces, bearings on one of the end pieces, each bearing havmg a pair ofshoulders at opposite ends thereof, a vertically swinging leg havingoppositely projecting spindles journaled in said bearings, said legbeing movable axially, each spindle having a pair of looking shouldersat opposite ends of the corresponding bearing, one shoulder of eachspindle being adapted to interlock with the shoulders on one end of thebearings when the leg is rocked to one position while the shoulders atthe opposite side of the bearing are adapted to lock with the adjacentshoulders of said bearings when the leg is rocked to the oppositeposition, said shoulders being brought into locking engagement by theaxial movement of the leg.

5. In a push cart a box comprising a bottom, opposite side and endpieces, one of the end pieces being hinged along its lower edge to thebox and provided with slots extending downwardly from its upper edge,crank arms journaled on the sides of the box and provided with lookingmembers movable into and out of said slots as the crank arms are rockedvertically in opposite directions whereby the hinged end of the box islocked and unlocked.

6. In a push cart, a box composed of a bottom, opposite side and endpieces, one of the end pieces being movable and provided with pivotalpins extending along the adjacent end of the bottom, bearings for saidpivotal pins, said movable end having slots extending downwardly fromits upper edge, rock arms j ournaled on the sides of the box andprovided with lugs movable into and out of said slots for locking andunlocking the movable end piece in and from its operative position.

7 In a push cart, a box having one end of its bottom provided with anunderturned bearing, U-shaped bars, each having one of its armsjoui'nalcd in one end of said bearing, a swinging end piece for the boxsecured to the opposite ends of said bars and having its lower edgeterminating a slight distance above the bottom to permit drainage ofwater therefrom, said movable end piece being provided with slotsextending downwardly from its upper edge, and swinging locking membershinged to the side of 10 the box and movable into and out of said slots.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2 day of March 1908.I

HENRY A. VELING. Witnesses M. S. MARKHAM, H. L. BALDWIN.

